Five of Westland’s special protected areas celebrate their 10th anniversary this month.
The five fully protected marine reserves were established in Westland on 7 September 2014. All sea life is protected within the reserves, so fishing and seafood gathering are not allowed there.
The reserves cover just over one percent of the West Coast’s seas and seven percent of its coastline length, leaving plenty of space for fishing elsewhere in the region.
Don Neale, a DOC West Coast Marine Reserves Ranger who helped establish the reserves, says they were ratified after thorough discussions over several years that involved Poutini Ngāi Tahu, local community representatives and several stages of public consultation.
“By the time the reserves were officially established, the local and other public support for them was strong, and that’s been reflected in the way that the ‘no fishing in the reserves’ rule is very well followed.”
The main intent of marine reserves is to preserve an area for scientific study. However, they have been proven to provide multiple benefits to the environment and people. Marine reserves are celebrated as places to enjoy the natural marine environment, and as a kind of insurance against the negative impacts that people have on the sea. They are a place where fish and other sea life can grow, sustaining local habitats and breeding stocks.
Baseline monitoring of the marine reserves and nearby areas has been set up in the last few years. Over time this will show how the sea is changing and the difference that the protection is making in those places.
Climate change is a massive threat to the health of marine reserves and the ocean generally. Over the past few summers, the West Coast has had marine heatwaves, raising the temperature of the oceans by an average of five degrees celcius.
Through photo analysis, DOC has noticed a worrying trend at a number of West Coast sites of bull kelp die-off, including the Punakaiki Marine Reserve. Bull kelp is a large native seaweed that provides habitat for many marine species and organic matter for coastal food chains. Its die-off is a highly visible indication that our global carbon emissions are having a huge impact on the natural environment, which we depend on for food, economic activity, ‘ecosystem services’ such as the production of oxygen, and our health and wellbeing.
Don says, “Westland’s marine reserves can be seen as ‘a window into the ocean’ for us all. They are protecting some of our special places from direct human activities, and revealing new things that might otherwise go unnoticed. So we encourage everyone to get down to one of your wonderful marine reserves, celebrate their 10th anniversary, and see what you can find!”
